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Christmas Tree Recycling Program

Allegheny County is again offering its annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program this holiday season. County residents may drop off Christmas trees from Wednesday, December 26, 2018, through Monday, January 14, 2019, at all nine regional parks from 8:00 a.m. until dusk.

All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands must be removed from trees prior to drop-off. Trees will be mulched and used in the county parks. Drop-off locations are:Click Drop Off Locations

Blawnox Hometown Hero's Program

Fall Burning Reminder

One of the biggest complaints we receive this time of year regards smoke from fire place chimneys. As you know, there are no regulations about indoor wood burning, but many residents do not realize that they have to keep their wood piles up off the ground and covered to keep the wood dry. It may be clean wood, but it's not dry and that causes a lot of smoke. Here is some helpful information from the EPA on the subject https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/learn-about-burning-wood-right-way-and-promoting-burn-wise-program

September 2018 Newsletter

First Responders Appreciation Breakfast 2018

Dorseyville Middle School's Team 7A would like to invite the first responders of the Fox Chapel Community to a breakfast in their honor on Tuesday, September 11th. The breakfast will take place from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the school cafeteria. Even if you cannot be present for the entire time, we would be honored if you could quickly stop by and grab some breakfast and a coffee. Please check in at the main office and come join us as we honor your dedication to keeping our community safe.

Blawnox Appreciation Day Cancelled

Dear residents, we are sorry to inform you that we have had to cancel this year's Blawnox Appreciation Day which was due to be held on Saturday September 8 at the Blawnox Community Park.

The 2017 Blawnox Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is available here.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, held Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. The day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

To learn more or to locate collection sites in your area, go to takebackday.dea.gov. Enter your zip code to find locations near you.

Blawnox Cleans Up, on April 21, 2018 from 9AM to 12 PM
Gloves, vests and trash bags will be available at the Borough Building from 9AM-10Am, feel free to call the office with any questions or to volunteer to " Clean UP".

Local Business Hiring
Tickets for Kids Charities is hiring a Administrative Services Specialist. Click here for job listing.

A Public Meeting scheduled for December 12, 2017, beginning at 5:30 pm. A presentation of the project will be made at 5:45 pm. Click here for details.

Household Chemical and Hard to Recycle (e-waste and tires) Collections More information is available here.

ALCOSAN's Clean Water Assistance Fund - assistance is available to help low-income residents pay their sewage bills. Eligible households will receive a $30 credit on their quarterly water/sewer bill. Click here for more information; North Hills Community Outreach in Millvale is the nearest agency to accept and process applications.

Happy New Year!

A calendar showing 2018 dates for trash pickup, Council meetings, and Borough closings is available here.

2016 Presents from Police

If you were traveling on Route 28 southbound on the morning of December 20th, you may have noticed a convoy of police vehicles, each stuffed with toys! For the sixth year, local law enforcement officers collected presents for children who were not able to be home for the holidays for the "Presents from Police" organization. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded by Aspinwall Officer David Nemec, who solicited help from neighboring police departments, including Sharpsburg, Fox Chapel, Shaler, Blawnox, Etna, Indiana, Ross, Bethel Park, McCandless, Millvale, O'Hara, and Hampton. Our thanks to Officer Nemec, as well as the Blawnox Police Department for bringing joy to these children, and taking a burden off their parents.

2016 BlawnoxNIGHT OF THE LIGHTS

The weather was perfect, the O'Hara Elementary School Chorus was right on key, the cookies were yummy, and Santa arrived right on schedule! Many thanks to all the individuals, organizations, and businesses who helped to provide a great time for kids of all ages: Blawnox A-Club, Blawnox Auxiliary Police, Blawnox-Glenover Volunteer Fire Company, I ❤ Blawnox, Christ Church of Fox Chapel, Eclips Hair Salon, Hoboken Presbyterian Church, Sarah Casile and Megan McGreevy, O'Hara Elementary School Chorus, Pianos 'n Stuff, and all the bakers who kept the cookies coming! A special thanks as well to the Blawnox Police and Public Works Departments, Kathy Ulanowicz, Katie Coban, Ray Oles, Diane Casile and Mayor Gross.

The 2017 Proposed Borough Budget is available here. Council is expected to vote on a budget at their December 15, 2016 meeting. At this time, no tax increase is anticipated.

The Borough's 2015 Annual Audit and Financial Report is available here.

Borough Water Testing

On July 12, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) released results from the first of two compliance tests for lead and copper to be conducted in 2016.

As you may have heard via the media, 55 of the 100 homes tested had detectable levels of lead, ranging from 2.1 to 75 parts per billion (ppb).Levels that exceed 15 ppb may require additional action on the part of the authority, such as additional water quality monitoring, more effective corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement.

Blawnox Borough purchases its water from the Fox Chapel Water Authority, who obtains their water from PWSA. While Blawnox recently tested the water supplies in 20 Borough homes for lead and copper, none of these sites were included in the data released by the PWSA. The 100 homes tested by the PWSA were all within City of Pittsburgh limits.

The Borough has just gained access to results from the testing that was done in June, and the values are under the actionable levels of 15 ppb for lead, ranging from 0.00 to 12.0 ppb. Note that 15 of the 20 tested homes had no detectable levels of lead, while 1 each had 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 6.0 and 12.0 ppb.

Your Water Bill and that $45 Fee

Several residents have questioned the additional $45 that has appeared on their quarterly water bills this year. Originally, the line item was titled "ALCOSAN Fee", but was recently changed to "Line Service Charge" to more accurately reflect the reason for the charge.

A little history: In 2014, ALCOSAN imposed a 17% rate hike, with 11% rate increases for 2015, 2016, AND 2017. The Borough did not sufficiently increase rates in 2014 and 2015 to cover these hikes.

Based on annual average consumption, Blawnox will pay ALCOSAN about $232,000 this year. However, the Borough's agreement with ALCOSAN states that Blawnox should also have a reserve fund of 120% of our annual average consumption; based on average consumption this fund would need to be nearly $280,000! While the Borough is not required to have this contingency reserve, it is best practice, and protects Blawnox in the event of an emergency.

For example, in 2015 a resident had a metered leak of over 1,000,000 gallons. Councilman Stoddard worked with ALCOSAN to forgive all but the customer's average usage because the water did not go into the sewer. This response averted a nearly $10,000 sewage bill that Blawnox would be responsible for if the customer did not pay. We have to pay if the customer cannot.

A committee devised the $45 flat fee to keep the increase level through at least 2017. Mr. Stoddard has stated that, "Our rate reflects where we need to be to pay ALCOSAN, to build and maintain a reserve that our agreement with ALCOSAN includes, to be able to complete work required by the consent order, to be prepared to build or repair our infrastructure, to pay engineering and legal costs and to pay our management and public works-associated costs".

If you have further questions, please contact the Borough office at 412/828.4141.

Vacant Property Recovery Program

Blawnox has again been selected to participate in the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program (VPRP). Through the program, residents can acquire vacant properties for side yards to an owner-occupied primary residence or blighted structure remediation at a reduced cost to the applicant. Click here for more information.

Blawnox Early Intervention Program Plan

In May of 2015, Blawnox Borough began working with Grass Root Solutions through the PA Department of Economic Development's Early Intervention Program for an analysis of the Borough's financial condition. An executive summary of their findings is available here; contact the office if you are interested in the full document, including Steps 1, 2 and 3 (Financial Analysis and Trending) and Step 4 (Management Audit).

BLAWNOX BOROUGH WATER, SEWER & REFUSE RATES

Blawnox Borough bills its residents quarterly for water, sewer, and refuse/recycling. Bills are sent to property owners.

Right to Know Requests:

2018 Council and Commission Meetings

Borough Meetings are as follows:

Council Meetings: Second Thursday

Committee's meet as follows:
Strategic Planning: First Thursday
Finance: First Thursday
Property and Planning: First Thursday
Public Safety: Third Thursday
Public Works: Third Thursday
Community Events: Third Thursday

Committee meetings begin at 6:00 PM, the regular meeting of Borough Council is the second Thursday of each month beginning at 6:30 PM. All meetings are held in the 2nd floor Council Chambers of the Borough Building, at 376 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

2018 Borough Holidays

Borough offices are closed on the following dates:
New Years: January 1
Good Friday: March 30
Memorial Day: May 28
Independence Day: July 4
Labor Day: September 3
Veterans Day: November 12
Thanksgiving: November 22,23
Christmas: December 25

TRASH & RECYCLE PICKUP

Refuse is picked up every Monday and recycling is picked up every other Monday. A calendar that includes collection dates is available here.

Please put your refuse and recyclables out after 5 p.m. on Sundays & before 7 a.m. on Mondays.